# Jason-1

> satellite oceanography mission

**Wikidata**: [Q1970012](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1970012)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason-1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jason-1

## Summary
Jason-1 was a satellite oceanography mission and Earth observation satellite designed to monitor global ocean surface topography. It was a joint initiative operated by the United States (NASA) and France (CNES) as part of the broader Jason satellite series. The mission launched in 2001 and concluded in 2013 after exceeding its design life by more than eight years.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Earth observation satellite / Satellite oceanography mission.
- **Operators:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES).
- **Launch Date:** December 7, 2001 (15:07:35).
- **Launch Vehicle:** Delta II (specific variant D289).
- **Launch Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West.
- **Mass:** 500 kg (launch weight); 450 kg (dry weight).
- **Service Life:** Designed for 3 years; operated for 11.5 years.
- **Retirement Date:** July 1, 2013.
- **Successor Mission:** OSTM/Jason-2.
- **Manufacturer:** Alcatel Space.
- **Spacecraft Bus:** PROTEUS.
- **Orbit:** Low Earth orbit.
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 2001-055A; SCCN 26997.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of the Jason-1 satellite?
A: Jason-1 was a satellite oceanography mission designed to observe Earth from orbit. As part of the Jason satellite series, its role was to gather data on ocean surface topography.

### Q: Who owned and operated Jason-1?
A: Jason-1 was a joint international project owned and operated by the French space agency (CNES) and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

### Q: How long did Jason-1 remain operational?
A: Although the satellite was designed with a service life of only 3 years, it remained operational for 11.5 years before being retired on July 1, 2013.

## Why It Matters
Jason-1 represents a critical chapter in the continuity of satellite oceanography. As an Earth observation satellite, it served as a bridge in the American/French Jason series, specifically succeeding earlier missions and paving the way for OSTM/Jason-2. Its significance is highlighted by its longevity; the mission provided nearly 12 years of data despite a 3-year design specification. This durability allowed for an extended period of ocean monitoring before the responsibility was handed off to its successor, OSTM/Jason-2.

The mission also demonstrated the utility of the PROTEUS spacecraft bus, a platform used for low Earth orbit missions. Manufactured by Alcatel Space, Jason-1 showcased the capability of international cooperation between NASA and CNES to maintain long-term observational infrastructure.

## Notable For
- **Longevity:** Operated for 11.5 years, exceeding its 3-year design life by a factor of nearly four.
- **International Cooperation:** A successful joint operation between NASA (USA) and CNES (France).
- **Continuity of Records:** Served as a direct predecessor to OSTM/Jason-2, ensuring continuous data collection for the Jason satellite series.
- **Launch Configuration:** Launched alongside the TIMED satellite on a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg.
- **Specific Nomenclature:** Also known by aliases including Joint Altimetry Satellite Oceanography Network - 1, EOS-ALT1, and OSTM.

## Body

### Mission Design and Specifications
Jason-1 was constructed by Alcatel Space utilizing the PROTEUS spacecraft bus, designed to accommodate scientific instruments in a compact frame. The satellite had a launch mass of 500 kg and a dry mass of 450 kg. It was equipped with two solar arrays capable of generating 450 watts of power to sustain its operations in low Earth orbit.

The satellite's technical identifiers include:
- **COSPAR ID:** 2001-055A
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** 26997
- **Wolfram Language Entity:** `Entity["Satellite", "26997"]`

### Launch and Deployment
The mission launched on December 7, 2001, at 15:07:35 UTC. It utilized a Delta II launch vehicle (variant D289) departing from the Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West. The launch event was notable for deploying Jason-1 alongside the TIMED satellite.

### Operational History
Managed jointly by NASA and CNES, Jason-1 spent over a decade monitoring oceanographic data. The mission formally concluded with a service retirement on July 1, 2013. This marked the end of an 11.5-year operational period, significantly surpassing the original 3-year design life.

### Series Context
Jason-1 is classified as an instance of an Earth observation satellite and is a specific entry within the Jason satellite series (an American/French Earth observation satellite series). It was directly followed by the OSTM/Jason-2 mission, ensuring the continuation of the program's observational goals.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Jason-1",
  "description": "A satellite oceanography mission and Earth observation satellite operated by NASA and CNES to monitor global ocean surface topography.",
  "url": "https://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/jason-1/summary/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11991",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason-1"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Earth observation satellite"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/jason-1.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://space.oscar.wmo.int/satellites/view/jason_1)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/j/jason-1)